PositiveLibrary JournalRutkow’s history links surgical advances to concurrent social and scientific developments ... Rutkow’s book is interspersed with depictions of significant, largely Western figures in the history of surgery and experiences from his 40 years as a surgeon ... This is a well-documented and jargon-free work, aimed at helping laypeople better understand surgery and its practitioners.
Brendan Borrell
PositiveLibrary JournalClashes of egos and the potential prestige and profits involved in being the first to succeed produce a story that reads like a thriller. Inside sources reveal missteps, reversals, conflicts, disappointments and triumphs as career officials and scientists work sometimes in tandem with each other, politicians, and the White House, and sometimes in conflict ... Relying on extensive firsthand sources, Borrell has produced a readable and detailed early account of developing and implementing vaccines.
Fred D'Aguiar
PositiveLibrary JournalD’Aguiar’s memoir is intensely personal and candid, technically informative, and, as a result of its range and inviting style, far from morbid or dry.
Lauren Etter
PositiveLibrary JournalA well-told business story showing the unsurprising result when noble motives collide with corporate reality and the specter of large amounts of money.
Steven Johnson
RaveLibrary JournalBlending scientific examples with medical discoveries, the narrative remains engaging and accessible from chapter to chapter, especially where Johnson effectively describes how illnesses that were once considered terminal have become manageable conditions. The thoroughly documented book includes numerous charts and an extensive index ... Johnson, as in his previous works, digs into his subject to highlight new connections and interrelated facts that produce fascinating and sometimes unexpected insights. A smoothly written book of medical wonder that pays specific attention to racial disparities in health care.
Tessa Miller
PositiveLibrary JournalAs more is learned about the long-term effects of COVID-19, health and science journalist Miller offers a timely description of the ramifications of a chronic illness. The story of her struggle with Crohn’s disease provides the undergirding for a broader look at how every aspect of life is impacted by any disease that doesn’t kill, but also doesn’t go away ... Miller is open about her own struggles and intertwines autobiographical portions with reflections on life with chronic illnesses ... A clear, no-holds-barred account that will be useful both to those coming to grips with their own chronic illness and also to the people in their lives.
